Aussies beat Britain to women's team sprint gold

Australian pair Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch stunned defending champions Britain to win gold in the women's team sprint final here at the world track cycling championships Thursday.

Lithuania claimed the bronze medal in a tight medal match-up with France.

Starting on first wheel Meares, who claimed silver in the women's 500m time trial Wednesday when she lost her world record, powered over the first lap of the track to lead Britain's Shanaze Reade by the slimmest of margins.

Despite having to hold off world and Olympic sprint champion Victoria Pendleton, McCulloch, just 21 years old, finished off the job to bring Australia home in a time of 33.149sec.

Britain clocked a time of 33.380.

Pendleton took a well deserved bronze in the 500m time trial Wednesday, but after losing this crown will turn to more serious matters in the women's sprint tournament.

Meares is not competing in the coveted speed event. However, Lithuania's Simona Krupeckaite, the new world 500m champion and record holder, will be one of the Englishwoman's big rivals.

Krupeckaite proved her worth when she overcame Clara Sanchez in the latter stages of their two-lap battle for the bronze to clock a time of 33.495.